Sherdog’s Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings

Lightweight

Lightweight

The second go-around with Frankie Edgar was even more contentious
than the first, but Henderson managed to get his hand raised by
split decision in Denver and retain the UFC lightweight title. The
155-pound king is slotted in to main-event UFC on Fox 5 on Dec. 8
against dangerous challenger Nate Diaz.

Edgar’s 145-pound debut was delayed when injuries from a motorcycle
accident forced reigning featherweight champion Jose Aldo out of
their UFC 153 scrap. Assuming both parties stay healthy, the highly
anticipated confrontation will now take place on Super Bowl weekend
in the UFC 156 headliner.

It is no secret that “El Nino” has been waiting for the day when he
could test the waters of the UFC’s loaded lightweight division.
After one final Strikeforce title defense against Pat Healy on Jan.
12, the promotion will close up shop for good. Then Melendez will
finally get that opportunity.

Maynard re-established himself as a 155-pound contender with a
somewhat frustrating victory over Clay Guida in June. His road to a
third UFC lightweight title shot hit an unexpected bump, however,
when a knee injury forced the Xtreme Couture representative to
withdraw from a UFC 155 clash against Joe Lauzon.

Diaz’s decision to wait for the winner of Benson Henderson-Frankie
Edgar 2 proved wise. With Henderson getting his hand raised at UFC
150, he is now signed on to defend his UFC lightweight title
against Diaz, who will make his second headlining appearance on
network television at UFC on Fox 5 on Dec. 8.

After going more than two years between losses, the younger of New
Jersey’s fighting Miller brothers has dropped two of his last three
starts. Miller will step in on short notice for the injured Gray
Maynard and attempt to end his mini-slump against Joe Lauzon at UFC
155 on Dec. 29.

After a solid run at 155 pounds in the UFC, Guida has elected to
try his hand at featherweight. “The Carpenter” will not get to ease
his way into the division, however, as he faces the world-ranked
Hatsu Hioki at UFC on Fox 6 in Guida’s hometown of Chicago.

After a lengthy layoff due to a shoulder injury, business is
picking up for the flashy WEC veteran. Pettis has become a part
owner of longtime training home Roufusport, and he will finally get
the chance to settle his feud with Donald Cerrone on Jan. 26 at UFC
on Fox 6.

Cerrone had plenty of hostile words for Anthony Pettis as a
shoulder injury kept “Showtime”on the shelf. The verbal sparring
will end on Jan. 26, as Cerrone locks horns with Pettis at UFC on
Fox 6 in a bout with No. 1 contender implications.

Bellator’s lightweight ace did exactly what was expected of him in
his May 5 non-title bout, sending Japanese vet Akihiro Gono into
retirement with a 56-second demolition. Chandler will get a much
stiffer test in his as-yet-unscheduled first title defense, which
will see the NCAA wrestling standout clash with Olympic judoka and
sixth-season tournament winner Rick Hawn.